Well I took delivery of the car yesterday and have only done 50 miles in it so far. However, first impressions are all positive. It looks stunning in the carbon grey and friends and family who've seen it all agree with that. The handover was smooth (nice to have found a competent VW dealer!!). The car is solid - no rattles at all and is an absolute hoot to drive. Quick, handles well and rides well despite the 18s and it even copes admirably with the speed bumps where I live.
Without question it is already the best car I've ever owned to drive - let's just hope it lives up to my expectations and proves relaible too.
Is it better than the Type R and VXR I nearly bought? Undeniably. It's maybe not quite as quick as the VXR but is definitely a better all round car. The Type R feels positively tinny (in terms of quality) and weedy (in terms of power) than the Golf.
Is the Golf £5k better than those two£ No. However, I'm sure the resale will make it worth the effort of saving up and paying the extra.
The cachet of the Golf is worth it too. It's had so many admiring glances in the day I've had it I can't believe. Even when I was sat in it at the dealer' as the salesman showed me round it some other customers were all over it like a rash.
So all in all I am very satisfied with it and am looking forward to getting to grips with it in the next few weeks.
